Police chiefs given a new national voice
Police and Crime Commissioners, chief constables and local policing bodies across England and Wales have given the official seal of approval to the formation of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Collaboration agreements have been signed which will see the new policing body replace the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on April 1.
The decision to establish the new body was made after Police and Crime Commissioners asked General Sir Nick Parker to undertake an independent review of ACPO. The Review’s recommendations were presented to Police and Crime Commissioners in November 2013 who overwhelmingly supported beginning the task of winding down ACPO and creating a successor body.
Police and Crime Commissioners Matthew Ellis (Staffordshire), Jane Kennedy (Merseyside), and Martyn Underhill (Dorset), who have led on the work on behalf of all PCCs said:
“Establishing the NPCC as a force funded collaboration agreement offers complete transparency around its financing, removes the risk of conflict of interest and most importantly leaves chief officers to focus purely on the business of operational policing. We believe it is important that a new body is completely transparent in its funding and offers excellent value for money, with strong, clear governance and leadership. In this final respect we are delighted that Sara Thornton will be leading the NPCC.
“We are delighted that our collective work has paid off and we are a step closer to the NPCC launching.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Chair Chief Constable Sara Thornton said:
“Chief officers supported the recommendations made by General Sir Nick Parker following his review of ACPO in 2013. The findings of this review set us, together with Police and Crime Commissioners, on a path towards a modernised and simplified national body.
“I want to thank PCCs for their part in getting us to this point, particularly Matthew Ellis, Jane Kennedy and Martyn Underhill who have been a part of the board implementing the reviews’ recommendations.
“I believe that we have built a sustainable and effective organisation that will coordinate operational policing at the national level to protect the public. I look forward to us continuing to work together.”